The Team

RYAN MECH (head Instructor)

Ryan started jiu jitsu under Kenneth Reynolds in Hohenwald TN in 2008. At the time Ryan primarily trained in NOGI grappling. In 2010 Ryan began training in Spring Hill TN Under Dave Brockelhurst in GI jiu jitsu. After 10 months Ryan was awarded a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by professor Brockelhurst. During the period between 2009-2012 Ryan also cross trained in Hayastan Grappling with Max Bishop who introduced Ryan to lower body submissions and Sensei Gokor Chivichyan. In 2013 Ryan moved to Michigan and began training under former king of the cage light weight mma world champion David Shepherd. Ryan fought 2 amateur mma fights under Coach David Shepherd resulting in a record of 1-1. In 2014 David Shepherd moved away and Ryan started his own Grappling club. Ryan taught both grappling and brazilian jiu jitsu. As time went on Ryan began to have the urge to continue to grow as a student, but without a coach this made things very difficult. In 2016 Ryan called up Gokor Chivichyan and asked if he would take him under his wing. Gokor was happy to have Ryan as a student and add Ryans club to the Hayastan affiliation. In 2018 Sensei Gokor promoted Ryan to level 7 in Hayastan and purple belt in jiu jitsu. In 2020 while Ryan was training in California at the Hayastan MMA Academy, Sensei Gokor promoted Ryan to Level 8 in the Hayastan system and brown belt in Jiu jitsu. Today Ryan is the head instructor of 2 locations under his own brand (Flesh is Stronger Fighting Systems) and remains a student of Sensei Gokor Chivichyan.

JACOB GREEN (Kids Grappling instructor)

Jacob is a level 4 in Hayastan Grappling under Gokor Chivichyan, a purple belt in bjj under Ryan Mech, a Brown Belt in Kihon Karate, and a black belt in Flesh Is Stronger Karate, originally promoted to black belt by tang soo do 2nd degree black belt Marc Mckee. Jacobs black belt has also been confirmed by striking master and multiple black belt Clint Natschke.
Jacob is the head instructor for the youth program in Roscommon as well as the Self Defense instructor in Gaylord.

Samantha Badgley
Head youth instructor in Gaylord Michigan. Samantha holds a blue belt in flesh is stronger jiu jitsu under Ryan Mech.

Troy Houdyshell
Troy is a 3 stripe white belt in flesh is stronger jiu jitsu, a level 2 in the Hayastan Grappling system, and a 4th degree black belt in taekwando. Troy is the Karate instructor for the academy.